BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) – The famously free-wheeling Joe Biden found himself in an unaccustomed situation Thursday: asked to comment on a White House gaffe that wasn't his own.

The vice president was asked by CNN what he thought of President Obama's unguarded moment earlier this week, when he was caught calling entertainer Kanye West a "jackass" for grabbing the microphone from teenage singer Taylor Swift at MTV's Video Music Awards earlier in the week.

Biden responded cautiously. "I honestly didn't know that. I have no comment on that," he told CNN's Chris Lawrence, adding with a laugh: "For someone who occasionally says things that I shouldn't say, I have no comment."

How does it feel to be on the observing end of an administration verbal slip? "Well first of all, (Obama) very seldom has a slip of the tongue," said Biden. "But I really can't comment. I truly don't know the incident. I heard it for the first time from you."

Biden is in Iraq this week, his third visit to that nation so far this year.

soundoff(135 Responses)

PK

Why is the media always so careful to call Biden's previous statements "verbal slips," or "gaffes?" More often than not they're not goofs or blunders... they're blatant lies. Let's call them what they are.

September 17, 2009 01:57 pm at 1:57 pm |

blech

Joe. You are awesome.

September 17, 2009 01:59 pm at 1:59 pm |

Joe B in DC

Apparently Joe does not read Bo's tweets. Joe does not know much anyway's so he is excused.

September 17, 2009 02:01 pm at 2:01 pm |

Wise Latina

I'm MUCH more concerned about Biden's comments that Iran is a long way off from developing a nuclear weapon capability, which is in direct conflict with expert assessments. I put much more weight on the latter than loose lipped Cowboy Joe.

September 17, 2009 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm |

candice

who said it was a white house gaffe?? not accurate. president obama was telling it like it was.

September 17, 2009 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm |

Cosmo

The President did goof. He just should have said that West was guilty of "Wilsoning".

September 17, 2009 02:03 pm at 2:03 pm |

Scott, Tucson

And this is suppose to be the smartest man in the country according to him.

September 17, 2009 02:04 pm at 2:04 pm |

geecee

Somebody please bash Biden for this. He never gets away with anything, why be any different now? Come on, someone must have something negative to say about our Vice President not saying anything about something he didn't know anything about and probably could care less about either. Anybody?

September 17, 2009 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

Debby

Oh come on Joe we know what your thinking. haha

September 17, 2009 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

vick

kanye is a cry baby and i agree with Obama

September 17, 2009 02:08 pm at 2:08 pm |

KM

I wouldn't consider Obama's comment a gaffe. I'd say it was spot on.

September 17, 2009 02:09 pm at 2:09 pm |

Willy Brown

Biden=Doofus

September 17, 2009 02:10 pm at 2:10 pm |

geecee

Oh, one more thing, Biden is over in Iraq in an area that is getting mortar-shelled and some genius reporter asks him about this? What is wrong with people? Really??

September 17, 2009 02:10 pm at 2:10 pm |

Fed Up

Obama finally got something right!

September 17, 2009 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |

Politics In Washington??

Biden is a candid, well-respected, thoughtful (OK voluble) man. The news media has the maturity level of a spoiled adolescent–you know the type of kid that is alway calling someone names and making fun and is deep down in ashamed of themselves but just can't grow up.

September 17, 2009 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |

D Payne

Do you suppose Jimmy Carter will say the comment was based on racism?

September 17, 2009 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |

HorkusMac

At least Jimmy Carter can't call Obama's slight a "racist" one, since both West and Dear Leader are both black. Stick to building houses, Jimmy, as your day has long since past.

Another free pass for Obama for making remarks he should refrain from, since he is the President.

September 17, 2009 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |

Really?

Good for you Joe! Media: you guys suck...

September 17, 2009 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

Anonymous

What happen to journalist doing real work..not being a part of the gossip mill.

September 17, 2009 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

dave

there you go again CNN trying to divide.Talk about your bias reporting about 911 coast guard lie.explain to the American people what happened.

September 17, 2009 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

Anarchy X

Oddly, Obama's comment is about the best thing I have heard him say to date, and it makes me like him better. That the media would get their undies in a bundle over the POTUS, quoted while he was "off the record," saying something you can hear on prime time TV, and which 90% of the people were thinking (if not worse) is a mystery.

September 17, 2009 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

James

Why should Barack even care about what Kanye does? Do you think if it was Eminem who jumped on stage and stole Taylor Swift's moment they would have asked Barack for his judgement on this?